By Eyram Yaa Ganku 7C

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum spoke about the PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION. As written in Khaleej Times, Sheikh Mohammed paid a visit to the Ministry of Community Development and had a breakthrough. He announced the National Strategy for Empowering People with Disabilities that very day. He made this remark:

‘Disability is in fact the inability to make progress and achievements. The achievements that people of determination have made in various spheres over the past years are proof that determination and strong will can do the impossible and encourage people to counter challenges and difficult circumstances while firmly achieving their goals.’

– Sheikh Mohammed

On the 14th of October, SMM has established their own helping hand, and has created a volunteering platform to assist students of determination. Students in Key Stage 3 volunteered to be “Homework Buddies”. This is hosted by the Pastoral Care Department.

St. Mary’s is a Catholic school which is an inclusive academe that respects diversity. SMM established an Inclusion Team to supervise this volunteering initiative. Ms. Maria Jolit Angeline P. Malaya, SEND Coordinator and Ms. Marie Fe “Maf” Cimafranca, Learning Support Teacher are tasked to supervise the students. The “Homework Buddies”  will help the students of determination in doing their homework and assist them in studying  the four core subjects: English, Maths, Science and Arabic.

Student volunteers or the “Homework buddies,” get to know more about different types of conditions and how to better support the determined students.

Saeed Altamimi, student representative of students of determination, shared his condition and discussed how to assist students with ADHD. Based on personal experience, he shared how it is like and how he learns best. Volunteers were curious and asked him personal questions which enable them to further appreciate their strengths and abilities.

After the sharing,  introductions of pairs/groupings were done. Volunteers get to know their pairs and every Monday, during Positive Education Period (PEP), the group meet to help and support each other.

To continue what was started last October 14, another meeting was held on the 6th of November, where Dominique Munro shared  her personal struggles with dyslexia. Student volunteers and other students of determination followed up her talk with questions about learning how to read, write and other issues that come with having dyslexia. Meaningful discussions took place which led to a better understanding of dyslexia and greater passion to help and assist the determined ones.